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Gisela raised her spear, then charged towards the direction of Letty's scream, the other soldiers following suit fully armed.
Meta Knight immediately unsheathed his sword, the Demon Beast slithering out of the water with a long eel-like body. It was far larger than expected, at least over twenty feet long. At the end of it's tail was an orb like appendage that glowed faintly in the night.
The blue knight blocked the Demon Beast's path to the pink puffball behind him. The creature hissed, rattling it's long tail as it neared closer to them.
A black puff jumped from the trees with a loud war cry, Gungnir raised in an offensive stance. With one throw, the spear landed in the creature's side. The Demon Beast wailed in pai and agony, trying to make a retreat into the water.
"Gisela, why would you do that?!" Garlude cried. "Now it's going to escape with your spear!"
Gisela didn't seem very concerned. Silently, she lifted her hand. Gungnir disappeared from the creature's side, then suddenly reappeared into Gisela's hand with a burst of red light.
"Heh…" She muttered. "You don't think I would be that stupid, would you?"
The black haired puff grinned underneath her mask. "I've never tried shark before…or eel for that matter. But tonight, I'm gonna get both! You're mine!"
Gisela stabbed Gungnir in the ground, then launched herself in the air with her weapon in hand. Candeloro pulled out her long chain whip, while Shenandoah retrieved a bow and quiver.
"C'mon guys! We can't let them get in all the action!" Falspar yelled, drawing his dagger.
The soldiers quickly surrounded the monstrosity. The sword-wielders stabbed at the Demon Beast's skin, but it's thick hide proved to be a challenge. Candeloro wrapped her chain whip around it's body, restraining it for the time being.
It shook against it's restraints, roaring as the swords tried to penetrate it's scaly skin. With one swift movement, the beast smacked Candeloro to the side with it's tail. Her whip landed next to her, the sandy beach cushioning the orange puff's fall somewhat.
Dragato turned away to face her, he held out his hand. "Candeloro, are you alright?!"
Candeloro smirked, shakily standing up. "I'm not about to make myself look weak in front of anyone. And I'm not going to let a scaly uncooked piece of salmon throw me around either!"
The orange puff wrapped her whip around one of the palm trees. "Gisela, come over here!"
The black puff turned, immediately understanding her strategy. "Slingshot! Got it!"
Gislea tugged on the whip, bringing the palm tree downward. She hopped on the top of the tree, then let go of her grip. The palm tree catapulted her towards the Demon Beast. With a loud guffaw, she stabbed one of the creature's six eyes.
The eel/shark beast opened it's mouth, attempting to bite Gisela with it's many teeth. The black puff punched it's open mouth, knocking out three of it's teeth. It managed to finally shake her off, but Gisela was unperturbed.
The red eyed puff did acrobatic flips as she fell, stabbing her spear into the ground as she landed. Then the black puff swung on Gungnir's handle and uprooted the magical weapon in one swift moment.
Nonsurat tilted his head at the sight. "W-Wow…amazing…"
"Nonsurat, what are you doing?! The fight's over here!" Jecra yelled, snapping Nonsurat out of his thoughts.
The turquoise puffball threw his axe at the Demon Beast, only it managed to dodge the attack in it's incessant flailing.
"T-That almost hit me!" Falspar gasped.
"Sorry, Falspar!" He yelled, running to retrieve his axe.
"Hmm, that was your axe?" Gisela said while casually blocking the Demon Beast's strikes as it tried to bite her. "You're a little man to be carrying such a heavy weapon."
Nonsurat didn't have time to respond. Gisela did an impressive back flip onto the creature's head, stabbing another eye before easily sliding down the creatures long back. Finishing off her move with a stab to it's upper tail.
Candeloro rushed on scene, restricting the creature once more by it's now injured tail. It flailed around, but the red haired puff held her whip with a nearly unbreakable hold. It struggled, raged, wanting to get closer to it's attacker.
Meta Knight ran along the creatures body, finding the spot Gisela had stabbed. He jabbed his blade through it, making the Demon Beast screech and struggle. The eel/shark creature wiggled it's tail, then quickly coiled around Meta Knight.
It's tail slammed him into the ground, then swatted him away. It repeatedly smacked the blue puff, nearly hammering him into the wet sand. With a loud roar, it broke free of it's restraints completely and dove into the ocean.
"We can't let it get away!" Gisela growled. "That's my dinner for the week!"
"Get your priorities straight, Gisela!" Candeloro barked.
The black puff ran deeper to the ocean, repeatedly stabbing the water furiously. She growled in irritation at letting the Demon Beast escape.
"Come out! I'll search this whole ocean if I have to!" She yelled, gritting her teeth.
"Sir Meta Knight! A-Are you alright?!" Letty asked, rushing to his side.
"Y-Yes…Nothing seems to be injured on my body." He answered as he lifted himself from the sand.
"I-I did it again…I just stood there when everyone was risking their lives…" Letty hung her head in shame. "I'm such a coward…I'm useless…"
"Do not say that. Fear is an understandable reaction to a Demon Beast, especially one of that size. It will become easier to face them with time. I am certain." Meta Knight said.
"But…"
"I am certain, Letty." He said more firmly.
"Y-You really are far too kind towards me…Gisela is going to have my head for this." She sighed. "And she's already in a bad mood because her dinner got away."
"Stupid fish! I'll make sashimi out of you! GAAAAAAAH!" The horned puff yelled, still stabbing the water angrily.
Gisela gave up her hunt, her eyes turning to daggers. "Letty, why were you out here anyway…with him?"
"Umm…I…I can-" Letty stuttered.
Gisela turned her back towards the water, her eyes filled with disappointment and rage. She opened her mouth to speak, but was cut short when something grabbed her foot and yanked her down into the deep waters.
"GISELA!" Letty shrieked with fright.
Much to her relief, the black puff emerged moments later, spear in hand. The Demon Beast burst from the water once more, but now it's tail was glowing brightly. Small light blue sparks seemed to form around the orb on it's tail end, it's body glowing a similar color in small intervals.
The soldiers immediately spring into action, determined not to let it get away this time. Jecra, Yamikage, and Garlude withdrew their swords and attacked the hide, while the four male puffs worked on injuring it's sides.
Sector S was doing something else entirely. Gisela performed a back flip, sticking Gungnir in it's scaly flesh and yanking the weapon out with her armored feet. She landed onto the ground perfectly, the legendary spear held in her right hand.
Candeloro restrained the creature once more, but was now using a different tactic. Once the marine monster was properly restricted, the orange puff drew out two rifle-like weapons. She jumped into the air, firing away at the beast.
Shenandoah was hidden away on the beach, shooting arrows from a distance at her target. Her aim was so precise, so practiced, there was no fear of her accidentally hitting someone with the arrows. And her quiver was filled to the brim with ammo.
These women were prepared, but Sector H was struggling to keep up their pace. The eel/shark hybrid was still strong, and had plenty of energy to fight back. It wailed, and despite being out numbered, it swept it's enemies away with one flick of it's tail.
The Demon Beast's body suddenly flickered with a blue light. It's tail raised, it slammed the orb at the end into Gisela. She let out a howl, as a fierce electric shock suddenly traveled through her body. The black puff stumbled backwards, nearly dropping her beloved spear.
"Gisela, speak to me!" Letty cried, racing to her leader's side.
"Let…eh…gi…ou, hea…" Her words were slurred, her body still shaking from the electric attack.
Nonsurat and Candeloro quickly grabbed Gisela, trying to take her to a safer part of the beach. She shoved their hands away and weakly stood up. She stabbed the hilt of the spear into the ground, trying to balance herself properly.
Letty watched in horror as the Demon Beast screeched and headed for her weakened leader. She had to do something, she couldn't just be a bystander anymore. Without thinking, she quickly grabbed a rock and threw it at one of the monster's wounded eyes.
It glared at her with a menacing hiss, no longer paying any mind to the black puff ball. She could see her reflection in it's eyes, they gazed down hungrily at her. It had found weaker prey, something easier to kill. Her body froze in terror, as it leaned it's head closer to her, it's mouth stretched open wide.
She ran, turning around to flee from it's gaping maw, but she tripped as the spun around. The pink puff felt a pain go through her foot as she fell onto the sand, she looked up. It's opened mouth filled with rows of teeth that was seconds away from tearing into her soft flesh.
A blue blur past by her eyelids. In a moment, Meta Knight had stepped in front of her. He stabbed it's third eye, but did not draw his weapon fast enough. His blade still stuck in it's eye, the Demon Beast hissed and growled. It grabbed him with it's tail, then tightly squeezed him. It repeatedly began to shock him with it's orb, he gritted his teeth in pain.
"R-Run…!" He managed to choke out.
"Let go of him!" Jecra yelled, with him and Garlude trying to cut through it's tail with little results.
Letty swallowed, then ran. Ran to the ship. Certainly, there must be something in the cargo hold that she could use. Anything. She hastily tore off the tops of the crates, ignoring the stinging pain the wood inflicted when it scraped against her skin.
Most of the spare weapons were far too heavy for use. Swords, axes…too heavy. She didn't know how to fire a bow and arrow, and there was no possibility she could handle a gun of any kind. The risk of a bullet ricocheting and hurting one of her allies was too much.
Her eyes began to water as she became more frantic, tearing open the boxes while her breathing became erratic. The images of Gisela nearly getting eaten, and Meta Knight getting electrocuted played over and over in her mind.
The blonde held back a sob. If Meta Knight dies, it would be her fault. He was the one who had stepped in the way when it was going to eat her… he risked his life for her safety. This fact made guilt run through her small body like venom.
"Letty, you're useless. Pathetic…you aren't worth saving…Sir Meta Knight's sacrifice was senseless…" The blue eyed puff thought, wishing he hadn't stepped in the way. Wishing she wasn't such a failure at everything Gisela tried to teach her.
There was one more crate, the one that had nearly crushed her. With a few frenzied yanks, she torethe top of the box off and threw the lid to the side. She now realized why it had been so heavy. The package was weighted with rocks, but there was definitely something else in the box.
It was something small, deadly, and possibly more dangerous than all the weapons in that ship combined.
"This…this can work…" She thought, carefully picking up the weapon.
Though fear run rampant in her mind, and she felt an alarming sense of danger from even so much as holding the weapon…it was the only thing she could use.
She held it in a gentle grip, not used to holding such a thing before. But she sprinted as fast as she could to the beach, and to the Demon Beast hurting her team.
-
Meta Knight's vision was fading. He knew what it was trying to do. It was leaving him and Gisela as the last, the beast was going to make them watch as everyone else was killed and eaten before their own deaths were enacted.
He tried to endure each electrical shock the Demon Beast inflicted upon him, His sword still jabbed in it's eye. Gisela still stood upright, not backing down despite the obvious agony she had felt earlier. She head butted it's side with her horns, trying to loosen it's hold on him.
The soldiers were tiring fast, but they still continued the fight. They wouldn't back down, not with a teammate in danger. It shocked him again, his breath leaving his body in one quick gasp. Struggling only made it's grip tighten, he felt his eyes closing…
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His eyes widened when the blue knight saw something pink in his line of sight. Letty ran across the beach, something unidentifiable in her hands. He had told her to run away. She came back…she was trying to help.
As she stepped closer to the battle, Meta Knight's eyes nearly turned white when he saw what was in her small pink arms…
It was a bomb.
The knight felt his mouth go dry. Possible gruesome scenarios flashed through his head.
The bomb would go off too quickly, most likely killing most of them in the explosion. Or…the Demon Beast would swallow both the bomb and Letty…either being killed by the beast's many teeth, or the bomb going off inside the beast.
And yet…Letty stood a few feet in front of the beast. She quite visibly was terrified, but clutched the dangerous bomb close. The Demon Beast noticed her at last, and so did the others.
"Letty, get rid of it!" Candeloro cried. "You'll die! Run! Get rid of it and run!"
The pink puff's eyes trembled, but she remained firm. The Demon Beast opened it's mouth, it's rows and rows of teeth showing fully, even in the night. It's head moved closer to her, but she still made no attempt to get away.
"I can't look! Garlude, I just can't!" Jecra coughed, covering his eyes with his hands.
"Letty, you idiot…" Gisela murmured, leaning against Gungnir. "Don't do this…"
The blonde could see her own reflection in it's eyes, blood seeping from the one Meta Knight's sword had went through. She felt her stomach drop to her feet. She raised her arm…
Then shoved the ticking bomb directly into the open mouth of the beast.
Letty yanked at the sword stuck in it's eye, the weapon sliding out of it's optic and landing next to her with a small clunk. It reeled back, the bomb traveling directly to it's stomach. It immediately released the blue puff, and he quickly grabbed his fallen weapon.
The bomb exploded within the eel/shark hybrid, the orb at the end of it's tail shattered. The scaly hide of the creature began to flake off, and with one loud cry it fell on the sand weakly. Gisela and Meta Knight ran to the beast, both glanced at each other before nodding.
Simultaneously, they stabbed the beast in the chest with their respective weapons. The enemy was vanquished, and everyone was alive. It was a miracle.
"We-We're alive!" Falspar laughed. "None of us are even really injured!"
"And if Letty didn't leave to get that bomb…" Garlude added.
Meta Knight paused, and turned around. "Letty…?"
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The pink puffball sat in the shallow end of the water, lying back with a blank expression. Her eyes were void of emotion, her normally pink skin was now very pale. The only indication that she was alive was the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed.
He was by her side within a second. "Letty, are you hurt? Please say something."
Letty didn't say anything, she silently gazed up with wide blank eyes as Gisela rushed to her companion.
"Letty, that was the stupidest and coolest thing I've ever seen anyone do…but you could've killed yourself! Or got eaten! …Letty? Hey…are you…alright?"
The blonde suddenly started shouting. "Gisela! Sir Meta Knight! I-It got so close- and-and-and then that bomb went off! And I- it-it was going to eat me! And I-I-I …I was holding a bomb…and-and-it was…I just…Ooooh…"
Letty swooned, nearly falling into the ocean. Gisela quickly grabbed her.
"Whoa there, girl. Take it easy." The horned puff held her. "Just take it easy now. Just relax. It's all over. Now c'mon, I think the mini fridge might have that ice cream with the strawberries in it that you're so crazy about. You earned it."
Letty gave a relieved sigh, wobbling a bit as she walked towards the ship. She turned towards Meta Knight when Gisela wasn't paying attention. She mouthed the words 'thank you', with a small dimpled smile.
And underneath the mask, he felt a small smile form on his own lips.
-
"Eww! Gisela. That's so gross!" Candeloro shrieked.
The black puff took another large bite of the Demon Beast meat. "Hey, it tried to eat me, I'm eating it now. Karma's a bi-"
"It's still disgusting! You don't know what could be in that thing! It could be poisonous!"
"It tastes good, I haven't keeled over yet, so I'm good." The red eyed puff took another large bite.
A few shook their heads at the sight, their stomachs tumbling.
"No! Noooo! Please, can't we stay just a little longer?!" Falspar yelled, latching onto Meta Knight and Dragato's feet as they packed up their supplies.
The two men ignored their comrade, continuing with their task with the green puff still attached to their feet.
Letty sat in the back seat of the ship, having mostly calmed down from her harrowing stunt earlier. Gisela had even bought her favorite ice cream as a surprise! She felt a small sense of accomplishment, even though she was sure it wasn't to last.
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She heard footsteps approaching her. Expecting Gisela, the pink puff straightened up a little. She was surprised to see it wasn't her sector leader, but the blue knight from Sector H. Why would he be going out of his way to speak with her? Did she do something wrong?
The blonde's mouth nearly fell agape when he decided to sit next to her. Her mind was swimming in a sea of confusion.
"…Are you hurt?" She asked quietly, feeling guilt for not being fast enough.
"That is not important. …I should be asking if you are injured."
His eyes fell to her arm. It was covered in cuts from where the Demon Beast's teeth had scraped against her skin. How had he missed seeing it before?
Letty seemed to notice his attentive gaze, as she quickly hid the wounded arm behind her back.
"I-It's nothing to worry about…it doesn't hurt." She lied, trying to ignore the sting of her damaged skin.
"Do not lie to me when you are clearly in pain…it's still bleeding…"
The blue night stood up and left the pink puffball, only to come back not moments later with a first aid kit.
He held a bottle of medicine. "This might sting."
Letty bit her lip to hold back a yelp when the medicine made contact with her cuts. Both remained quiet as the blue knight tended to her wound, carefully wrapping a bandage around her small pink arm.
"Thank you…" She said quietly, not making eye contact.
"Are you injured elsewhere?"
She shook her head.
"Are you sure?" His eyes bore into her own.
Letty nodded. "I just…I'm sorry for running away earlier."
"But you came back. And what you did was incredibly dangerous…but impressive." Meta Knight praised.
"But…it was the bomb that did that. I just carried it." Letty argued.
"You cannot deny the fact it was a bomb. There are several soldiers that would never dare to touch an explosive, out of fear. And you referred to yourself as a coward."
"T-That's enough!" Letty waved her hands. "I-It wasn't a big deal, and I've had enough excitement for today…tonight…so…, so please stop giving me so much undeserved praise!"
"So modest…" Meta Knight thought.
Before the blue puff could speak, the sound of the ship's doors opening was heard. The other soldiers stepped inside, with Gisela's eyes locked onto Meta Knight. She slowly approached him, her armor clanking as she moved.
"You're in my spot." The black puff said, eyes narrowing. "Move."
Not wanting to cause unnecessary trouble, he reluctantly moved from his spot and sat next to Jecra and Garlude. Gisela couldn't do anything to him, but she was Letty's sector captain.
"Got shot down by The Iron Fortress again?" Jecra asked.
"You're being very persistent, Sir Meta Knight."Garlude giggled. Followed by Jecra.
"What?" Meta Knight frowned. "Why are you both laughing? Am I missing something? …Has someone stuck something to my mask?"
This only increased the frequency of their giggles.
Gisela lied back in her seat with a sigh, then turned to the smaller puff.
"Letty…" Her tone did not hold anger or disappointment, but a new complex emotion. "We need to talk…"
Author's Note: Our 50th chapter! Was it exciting enough for you? We had a fight, an implosion, and danger, so I think it was very exciting. And Letty used her first weapon! Gisela punched a shark...eel... thing!
Next chapter, the story will return to the present, where Meta Knight is still unhappy and seeks help for his near schizophrenia. I don't have much to say in this Author's Note, so Leer will be quiet now.
Leer Justice, out!